March 2021 PMID 33788064

Improving college students' fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course.

Jessica E Brodsky, Patricia J Brooks, Donna Scimeca, Ralitsa Todorova, Peter Galati, Michael Batson, Robert Grosso, Michael Matthews, Victor Miller, Michael Caulfield

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Mentions

18
Peak: 4 in Apr 2021
across 4 sources since Apr 2021

Extended reach

18,279
potential audience

Total likes

13

Video views

342

Mentions per month

Apr 2021 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter7 posts
  • Facebook7 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube1 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discussions express a generally positive reception, with mentions of how lateral reading improves source evaluation, as seen in comments praising the approach, such as 'Lateral reading instruction improves college students' fact-checking strategies.' The tone balances appreciation with critiques like the absence of fundamental fake news detection principles, reflecting curiosity and constructive engagement.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the value of the study, with some emphasizing the importance of lateral reading in fact-checking, though a few notes suggest missing elements like basic principles for discerning fake news.

InterestModerate interest

The postings show moderate curiosity, with references to the study's methods and implications, indicating shared interest in improving fact-checking among students.

EngagementModerate engagement

Participants engage by citing specific aspects of the article, such as the use of lateral reading strategies and the potential for applying these methods, demonstrating a thoughtful level of interaction.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that people see this research as potentially influential for teaching practices and increasing media literacy, though they recognize further research is needed.

Abstract in brief

  • College students often lack effective factchecking skills, which can lead to accepting false information easily.
  • The study tested a civics course that used the Digital Polarization Initiative (DPI) curriculum to teach lateral reading strategies, which involve verifying sources by leaving the original website to check facts.
  • Students who participated in the DPI curriculum were better at using lateral reading to evaluate information and demonstrated increased use of Wikipedia for source investigation, although their trust in Wikipedia remained unchanged; further research is needed to see if these skills are lasting.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Aaron Tay
@aarontay · X

[read] Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/FIZFGLrXzX

Apr 24, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 7,457 followers View post →
Sherwin Arnott
@sherwinarnott · X

Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/TQgwINYIzh

May 17, 2021 · 2 likes · 2,176 followers View post →
Gisbert van Ginkel
@GvanGinkel · X

@DTWillingham Strange that they did not incorporate a basic principle for discerning fake news: fact checking through lateral reading. https://t.co/w5a7myAdYy

Aug 20, 2023 · 2 likes · 730 followers View post →
CUNY GC Ed Psych
@CunyGCEdPsych · X

Lateral reading instruction improves college students' fact-checking strategies in a general ed course: https://t.co/QS7ukvuZxU Authors: @jebrodsky, Patty Brooks, Donna Scimeca, @raly_todorova, Peter Galati, @m64batson; Robert Grosso, Michael Matthews, Victor Miller, @holden

Apr 27, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 226 followers View post →
Scholarcy: read smarter
@scholarcy · X

RT @aarontay: [read] Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics…

Apr 24, 2021 · 1 share · 5,355 followers View post →
Mary
@readaloudbooks · X

Improving college students' fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/ILOnmXtvRB

Apr 1, 2021 · 1,622 followers View post →

All mentions

Nicolae Kutcher
@NicolaeKutcher · X

Thread

Jun 17, 2024 · 265 followers View post →
Gisbert van Ginkel
@GvanGinkel · X

@DTWillingham Strange that they did not incorporate a basic principle for discerning fake news: fact checking through lateral reading. https://t.co/w5a7myAdYy

Aug 20, 2023 · 2 likes · 730 followers View post →
Sherwin Arnott
@sherwinarnott · X

Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/TQgwINYIzh

May 17, 2021 · 2 likes · 2,176 followers View post →
CUNY GC Ed Psych
@CunyGCEdPsych · X

Lateral reading instruction improves college students' fact-checking strategies in a general ed course: https://t.co/QS7ukvuZxU Authors: @jebrodsky, Patty Brooks, Donna Scimeca, @raly_todorova, Peter Galati, @m64batson; Robert Grosso, Michael Matthews, Victor Miller, @holden

Apr 27, 2021 · 1 like · 1 share · 226 followers View post →
Scholarcy: read smarter
@scholarcy · X

RT @aarontay: [read] Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics…

Apr 24, 2021 · 1 share · 5,355 followers View post →
Aaron Tay
@aarontay · X

[read] Improving college students’ fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/FIZFGLrXzX

Apr 24, 2021 · 4 likes · 1 share · 7,457 followers View post →
Mary
@readaloudbooks · X

Improving college students' fact-checking strategies through lateral reading instruction in a general education civics course https://t.co/ILOnmXtvRB

Apr 1, 2021 · 1,622 followers View post →
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